YEAR 9 ART

This is a foundation course where you will learn skills that will set you up for success in Visual Art. This will be done through attempting various styles of art from New Zealand and all over the world; understanding the ways in which symbols and signs are used in art; and recognising how themes and ideas can be shown through visual media. 

Through learning art you will be able to:

• participate in a changing society as confident, informed and visually aware individuals

• have a better understanding of yourself and the culture and environment in which you live.

• develop the art skills and confidence to express your ideas visually

• have a greater understanding of visual literacy

• be able to problem solve creatively

Studying visual Art can open doors to creative industries such as:

• Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Advertising, Web Design, Game Concept Artist, Architecture, Special Effects Designer

• Artist, Photographer, Printmaker, Sculptor, Performance Art, Filmmaker, 

• Interior Design, Textile Design, Fashion Design, Costume and Set Designer

• Art Restorer, Gallery Curator, Exhibition Manager, Teacher, Art Historian

Visual skills are essential for a sophisticated workforce, so by studying Art you gain an education in the vital skills of learning to see and develop the ability to interpret and critique our image-saturated world. 

Alongside developing your practical skills and ideas you will learn ways of critiquing art and understanding the time and place they are made and why.

In every topic there will be learning objectives linking to the main strands of the Visual Arts curriculum and these will be made clear in relation to the skills and ideas being taught in the different areas.

The following learning objectives are from the Level Four section of the Visual Arts Curriculum.

You will:

Understand the Visual Arts in Context

• Investigate the purpose of objects and images from past and present cultures and identify the contexts in which they were or are made, viewed and valued.

Develop Practical Knowledge

• Explore and use art-making conventions, applying knowledge of elements and selected principles through the use of materials and processes.

 Develop Ideas

• Develop and revisit visual ideas, in response to a variety of motivations, observation, and imagination, supported by the study of artists’ works.

Communicate and Interpret

• Explore and describe ways in which meanings can be communicated and interpreted in their own and others’ work.

During the course you will produce three major bodies of work.

• Still Life Drawing and Portraiture - this unit teaches you the fundamentals of drawing where you try different drawing techniques while learning how to draw from observation.

• German Expressionism Woodblock Printmaking - you will look at the time and place where German Expressionism originated and apply the art making skills of the artists of the time. You will create your own print!

• Collage - this is a contemporary process of image making where you will be able to express your creative mind.

This course sets you up for success in Year 10 Art where you will further develop your art making skills through project based learning.

This course is assessed using our WC Learning Progression Framework and provides an excellent foundation for students wishing to continue onto Year 10 Art. 

Artists are creative and imaginative.
Artists are observant and have an eye for detail.
Artists are patient, motivated and disciplined.
Artists are confident and able to accept criticism.
Artists are good communicators.
Artists are good at managing their time. 

You will need a growth mindset, a willingness to try new things and to be brave with expressing your creative mind. It doesn't matter if you haven't done Art before, this course caters for everyone! 

You will also need an Art Pack, which you can order from National Art Supplies, here.